Is evolution true?

"A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it."

-- Max Planck, discoverer of quantum mechanics, who initiated a revolution in natural science and philosophy.

On Sunday 4-15-12, Christians, atheists, and others from all belief systems will gather to discuss the topic "Does science destroy Christian theology?" Bernie Dehler (atheist and former Christian) will present the argument, and Dr. Bart Rask will offer a Christian rebuttal. The event will be held in a conference room at the Vancouver library. Click here to see all the details: http://tinyurl.com/7vb5u8m.

Dehler says that one of the biggest areas of difficulty with religion and science is over biological evolution. Dehler believes that humans descended from other animals, while Dr. Rask believes there is not sufficient evidence to believe that humans descended from animals. On this topic, Dehler makes two claims:

1. It is scientific consensus that humans did evolve from animals.

2. There is sufficient evidence for anyone to come to the same conclusion if they study the evidence. For example, the existence of pseudogenes in human DNA.

Why is consensus an important consideration? Isn't this a logical fallacy, called "appeal to authority?" Dehler says the reason why it is important is because experts in the field know much more than the general layperson. For example, Dehler has never cut a person by doing surgery, so he would never presume to know more about surgery than those who actually perform it, such as Dr. Rask. In the same way, he says Dr. Rask shouldn't go against the general consensus amongst biology experts since Dr. Rask is not a biology expert.

Why does Dr. Rask think he can contradict the experts in the field? Two reasons:

1. Dr. Rask says that he has information that the experts may not have or don't consider.

2. The experts may be unduly influenced by peer pressure to "toe the line" when it comes to biological evolution.

Dehler says that pseudogenes are a very persuasive DNA argument in support of evolution. According to evolution, we descended from other animals, and when we compare the DNA across animals, we see many changes that indicate descent. Pseudogenes are broken genes that actually do work in ancestral creatures but not in our human DNA. When you build a tree diagram of animal descent and consider the inheritance of pseudogenes, the data is in-line with what one would expect. Namely, if creature A and B both have a pseudogene, then the pseudogene is also observed in all of their offspring. And as you consider the branching diagram of descent for each creature, you can see how pseudogenes are inherited across the branches of descent. Dehler says either it must be that we really did descend from other creatures; of if we are a special creation by a miracle from God, then God is trying to purposely deceive us by making it look as if we descended from other animals when we really didn't. This kind of God is distasteful to most people because it would mean that God is a liar and deceiver (God is supposed to be all-good, with no shadow of lying).

Dr. Rask will present some arguments and evidence as to why this pseudogene argument isn't as convincing as Dehler proposes. After hearing both sides, you in the audience can make up your own mind.

If you are the kind of person that is interested in listening and participating in these kinds of events, Dehler puts many of these Portland/Vancouver debates/discussions online, and they are available for free viewing at his YouTube channel here: http://tinyurl.com/6n2krry.